The Practice of Yoga Begins Now

Beginnings are super exciting yet can also be paralyzingly scary. I get it! My mind loves to get involved (a bit too involved) before I even begin something. I want the excitement of something new, and the benefits that I envision RIGHT NOW! But, I get bogged down in the perceived details, the unfamiliar and the unknown, which sometimes prevents me from starting. This can happen when wanting to start a yoga practice. Having been approached for advice by a few people on how to get started with yoga, I've broken this beginning into three manageable steps.

Why I Do What I Do

One of the first classes I taught when I began teaching yoga was as a substitue teacher for an Ashtanga based class.  Prior to this, I had only taught a couple of Chakra karma classes at this particular studio in order to get experience and see if this “yoga teaching thing” was something I really wanted to do. When one of the students arrived, she saw me sitting behind the desk, asked if I was subbing and then said “You’re not doing any of that chakra stuff, are you?” (clearly not wanting to be involved in practicing any of that “chakra stuff").  First, I assured her that for an Ashtanga based class I would be teaching Ashtanga and that I had a strong background in this style of yoga.  After she was satisfied and had headed into the studio, I started to feel a bit offended.  She had been to one of my karma classes, didn’t she see how wonderful and holistic this practice is?  As I reflected further, I realized she had every right to this opinion.  Hadn’t I been to classes that didn’t resonate for me?  Hadn’t I tried different practices and teachers that I didn’t enjoy for whatever reason?  I had finally found my path.  I was discovering more and more what brought me to life, but it didn’t mean that it was everyone else’s path or that it would have the same effect on them. 

Summer Arm Balance Workshop

Find some balance and have some fun!  Join Maegan and I as we walk you through some foundation and alignment to help you take flight!  Contact myself, Maegan or Yoga You4ia for further details and to register. See you then!

Embrace the Darkness

I’m an adult who is sometimes scared of the dark.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a recurring dream which (thankfully) doesn’t occur that often.  In my dream, I wake up in the exact spot I fell asleep, but I am in total darkness.  It doesn’t matter if I fell asleep in the middle of the day to have a nap.  When I wake up it is dark.  I don’t realize at first that these are dreams.  They are so vivid and lifelike, that I just think that I have simply woken from my slumber.  It isn’t the actual darkness that scares me, however.  In these dreams I am paralyzed - I can’t move, I can’t speak and I feel powerless.  At first, I’m confused.  My confusion soon turns to fear and then the realization that I am sleeping and if I can just wake up, I will be safe.  Unfortunately, the more I try to move and the more I try to use my voice, the deeper into the dream I go and the more difficult it is to wake myself up.  Because of these dreams, darkness (for me) has become associated with fear, uncertainty and powerlessness.

Who's In?

It's that time of year again.  Another changing of the seasons.  Come help us celebrate with 108 sun salutations.  I was just talking to someone today who was nervous to come to her first 108 sun salute event in September.  She is super stoked to do it again.  Whether you have done this practice before, or it is your first time it is always a new experience.  Need more details?  Connect with me to find out more.

How Ya Goin?

I'm back, unjetlagged and ready to bring the spirit of oz to the mat.  Click 'My Calendar' to see the latest (and continuing to be updated) schedule of where/what/when I'll be teaching.  Looking forward to seeing you on our mats!

Living on the Edge

I'll be away for a few weeks to "practice" getting out of my comfort zone (and escaping winter for a bit longer in the process!)  Chakra classes at Garden of Breathin will be covered by the amazing Ty.  Though I won't be there, there are still amazing teachers and wonderful classes going on at Yoga You4ia and Blue Butterfly.  I will be back around the end of the month or beginning of December - because when you live outside the comfort zone, you don't have set dates ; )

My schedule will be posted when I return.  See you on our mates when I get back!

A Global Day of Yoga

This is going to be EPIC!!  Let's bring the Medicine Hat yoga community together for a good cause.  Can't wait to see you there!

Journey With-Yin

Looking to slow down after a busy week?  Let's go on a journey!

I'm Back . . . . and Ready to Roll

I Am Open

Welcome 2015 and welcome to my online space - one of my projects for the new year.  I stopped making New Year's resolutions a few years ago during a particularly tough emotional time where I looked back and realized I was setting resolutions based on what I thought I "should" be accomplishing.  When I got to the end of the year, I didn't have these things and it made me feel like somewhat of a failure.  I realize now that I wasn't basing my goals on what it was I truly wanted, and as I didn't really know at the time what it was I really wanted for my life, I came up with a word to set the tone for my year.  This seemed to work for me, and I've been coming up with words or phrases for each upcoming year ever since.  It wasn't until now that I realize that I was coming up with my own personal mantra, or intention, for the year.